incite

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to urge or provoke people to act, especially violently or unlawfully

   The speaker was accused of trying to incite the crowd to riot.

2. 2
   verb

   to stimulate or bring about a feeling, reaction, or course of action

   The ruling incited widespread anger among residents.

From Middle French inciter and Latin incitare, 'set in motion, hasten, or urge,' formed from in- + citare, a frequentative of ciere, 'rouse or call forth.'

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